Sodexo shortlisted for company of the year in European Diversity Awards

Sodexo is on the shortlist for company of the year at the European Diversity Awards taking place tonight.

The Awards are independent honours that recognise and celebrate those organisations and individuals that have shown innovation, creativity and commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion during 2013.

Sodexo has introduced six work streams: cultures and origins, disability, gender, generations, inclusion and sexual orientation, to explore how diversity impacts Sodexo people, customers, clients and suppliers. With a designated leader and an executive sponsor, each work stream will deliver agreed activities, of which Sodexo employee networks, such as Women Work and Generations, are one element.

Sponsored by Nestle, the company of the year category sees Sodexo taking on Volvo, Hilton and the Royal Air Force among the organisations on the shortlist at the ceremony, which will be held at the Natural History Museum, London.

Managing director of Sodexo Ireland Margot Slattery was highly commended in the Diversity Champion category at last year's European Diversity Awards.

Megan Horsburgh, head of diversity and inclusion for Sodexo UK & Ireland says: "Sodexo UK and Ireland has recently introduced a fresh approach to diversity and inclusion which builds on our successes, broadens what we want to accomplish and more effectively measures our achievements. We are delighted that this has been recognised by us reaching the shortlist in the company of the year category in the European Diversity Awards."

Operating in 80 countries, Sodexo has some 428,000 employees and serves 75 million customers each day. The company employs around 35,000 people in the UK and Ireland alone, delivering services ranging from cleaning, laboratory and grounds maintenance services and catering, to reception, asset management and security to clients at some 2,300 locations in the corporate, healthcare, education, leisure, justice and defence sectors.